What To Drink Now: 2012 Summer Olympics Cocktails ~ London Calling

London in the summertime is the ideal time to visit, with this year being that much more so as we start the 2012 Olympic games in the city that truly hasn’t stopped celebrating since the Queen’s Jubilee. As our athletes embark on making dreams for themselves and the country come true consider raising a glass to their efforts, and to cheering them on to victory. Here are a few ideas.

In honor of London, the host for these summer games, a classic cocktail tweaked a bit using one of my favorite spirits, Pimm’s No. 1.

Red, White & Blue Bramble
2 parts Cointreau®
1 part Lemon juice
½ parts Crème de Mure*
Directions – Add the Cointreau® and lemon juice to a mixing glass with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Float the Creme de Mure on top.
*Crème de Cassis (currant liqueur) or Crème de Framboise (raspberry liqueur) can be substituted for Crème de Mure (blackberry liqueur)

Star Spangled Sparkler1 1/2 oz Blue Ice American Vodka
1/2 oz Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis
Champagne or sparkling wine
Strawberry for garnish
Directions – Pour vodka and cassis into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Pour into a Champagne flute and top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a slice of strawberry.